US 11,890,616 B2
Microfluidic device for capture of micrometer scale objects and methods of using the device
Jae Wan Kwon, Columbia, MO (US); and Jussuf Kaifi, Columbia, MO (US)
Assigned to The Curators of the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO (US)
Filed by THE CURATORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, Columbia, MO (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/830,617.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/823,771, filed on Mar. 26, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2020/0306759 A1, Oct. 1, 2020
Int. Cl. B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 15/10 (2006.01)
CPC B01L 3/502761 (2013.01) [G01N 15/1056 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0636 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0647 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0652 (2013.01); B01L 2200/0668 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0861 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0864 (2013.01); B01L 2400/086 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device for capturing micrometer scale objects, said device comprising:
a chamber comprising an inlet for receiving a fluid flow, wherein the fluid flow comprises one or more micrometer scale objects to be captured and one or more micrometer scale objects that are smaller than the micrometer scale objects to be captured;
a plurality of posts extending from a base of the chamber and arranged in an array of a plurality of pairs of the posts, wherein each post comprises an arcuate trapping section and an arcuate bypass section;
a plurality of trapping channels, wherein each trapping channel is defined between the arcuate trapping sections of the posts in each pair of posts, wherein each trapping channel has a width narrower than a diameter of the one or more micrometer scale objects to be captured; and
a plurality of bypass channels, wherein each bypass channel is partially defined by the arcuate bypass sections of adjacent posts in the array of posts, wherein each bypass channel has a width wider than the diameter of the one or more micrometer scale objects to be captured;
wherein the array is configured such that when the inlet receives the fluid flow, the fluid flow passes through the bypass channels whereby a curved shape of the bypass channels between the arcuate bypass sections of adjacent posts imparts a first momentum on the one or more micrometer scale objects to be captured and a second momentum on the one or more micrometer scale objects that are smaller than the micrometer scale objects to be captured, whereby the one or more micrometer scale object to be captured are separated from the one or more micrometer scale objects that are smaller than the micrometer scale objects to be captured such that the first momentum directs the one or more micrometer scale objects to be captured into the trapping channels and
the second momentum directs the secondary objects away from the trapping channels, whereby at least one of the one or more of the micrometer scale objects to be captured is trapped within the trapping channels formed between the trapping sections of the pairs of posts.